Kimmage criticises references for Humphries

Leading sports journalist Paul Kimmage has said that 'Sunday Times' sportswriter David Walsh and hurling legend Donal Óg Cusack made 'very bad mistakes' in writing character references for paedophile Tom Humphries.

Leading sports journalist Paul Kimmage has said that 'Sunday Times' sportswriter David Walsh and hurling legend Donal Óg Cusack made 'very bad mistakes' in writing character references for paedophile Tom Humphries.

Humphries, a former 'Irish Times' sports writer, will be sentenced later this month for child sex offences.

Walsh and Cusack came in for criticism after it emerged at a court hearing in early October that they had written letters to the court on his behalf.

Speaking on 'Claire Byrne Live' last night, Kimmage said that the pair were wrong to write the letters in support of someone who had pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child.

"I don't think there is any justification, or would ever be a justification, for writing a character reference in a case like that," Kimmage said.

"David has made a very, very bad mistake and Donal Óg Cusack has made a very bad mistake; but I don't think they are complicit in what Tom did. I don't believe in the lynch mob trying to hang them from a height because what they did, I believe, they did in good faith. They did it out of the best intentions possible and they were ill-advised. They made a mistake."